Cannon River STEM School Home

Come explore with us…

Director's Message (Special Naturalist Edition)

Cannon River STEM School was awarded 1st place at a maple syrup contest held at the annual Minnesota Naturalists Association conference, this year held at Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center. This honor was given after the syrup was tested by Naturalists and other environmental educators from around the state.

Every year, 3rd grade students at CRSS work hard to learn about trees of Minnesota, as well as the cultural and modern tradition of tapping maple trees for sap, and turning that sap into syrup. The process takes place around March, and requires students to correctly identify maple trees, to learn how to safely "tap" the tree without damaging it, and then taking responsibility for collecting the sometimes very heavy buckets of sap.

During the "sugaring season", 3rd graders also learn about the cultural role that maple syrup and sugar plays for the Dakota and Ojibwe people, who not only discovered and perfected the process in this region, but also who have continued the tradition on the land we call Minnesota for generations.

Lastly at the end of the season, 3rd grade students assist with collecting enough firewood in order to boil the sap down outdoors until it has lost about 65% of the water content, leaving delicious and "award winning" syrup. The syrup is then enjoyed at the end of the season at a celebratory "pancake party", which this year for our 3rd graders, will taste even sweeter!

Recent News

Give to the Max Day

Thursday, November 16 is Give to the Max Day

Scholastic Book Fair

Our Scholastic Book Fair will take place in the gymnasium Monday, October 16 - Wednesday, October 18.

Now Enrolling!

Click here to apply:

Postponed

The August board meeting has been postponed. It will take place on Wednesday, August 23 at 6:30 PM in the cafeteria.

Special Board Meeting Thursday, June 22 at 5:30 PM

CRSS Board of Directors Closed Meeting

There will be a closed meeting of the CRSS board of directors on June 8 from 6:00-7:00 PM (prior to the regular board meeting). The purpose of this closed meeting is to evaluate the executive director.

Earth Week

Earth Day at CRSS is the most important day of the year! That's why we celebrate it all week! Please remind your student to wear green or blue on Monday, April 17.

Postponement due to the predicted snow:

The enrollment lottery and board meeting has been postponed until Thursday, March 16. The enrollment lottery will take place at 5:30 PM in the cafeteria. The board meeting will take place at 7:00 in the cafeteria.

32 CRSS Students' Art Work Displayed

All Area Student Show opening reception will be held Friday March 3rd 5:00pm-7:00pm. Join us on the second floor of the Paradise Center for the Arts to celebrate youth art. Local participating schools include: Faribault Area Learning Center, Jefferson Elementary, Lincoln Elementary, Roosevelt Elementary, Cannon River STEM School, Faribault Middle School, Bethlehem Academy, and Waterville-Elysian-Morristown.
All Area Student show will be on display March 3 - April 8, 2023 during Paradise Center for the Arts open hours. Paradise is currently open Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 12pm-5pm, Saturday 10am-2pm. Please contact Visual Arts & Education Director Julie Fakler with any questions, [email protected]

About Us

500 Student Service Hours per Month
300+ Outdoor Hours per School Year
50 Pounds Composted per Day
1+ Miles of Outdoor Trails